KATIE PESZNECKER / Anchorage Daily News

PROTEST: Group waves signs to move zoo elephant to refuge.

By KATIE PESZNECKER
Anchorage Daily News

Published: May 21, 2007
Last Modified: May 21, 2007 at 03:02 AM

About two dozen fans of the zoo's African elephant, Maggie, gathered on a South Anchorage street corner Sunday to make a collective plea for the pachyderm:

Move Maggie -- and take action soon, rather than wait for a scheduled review in August. About two dozen people showed up for the rally, many toting homemade signs that had messages like "Tell the zoo to let her go," and "Stop watching Maggie die."

"We just need to zoo to say 'OK, we'll let her go,' " said Peggy McFarland, at Sunday morning's protest. "They'd be respected a lot more in this community if they'd agree to do that."

Pat Lampi, the zoo director, declined to comment on the rally. "It's their right," he said, of the assembled group.

As for Maggie, "She seems to be acting fine," he said.

Critics questioned the elephant's health this past week after firefighters twice had to hoist her upright after she lay down and couldn't get up. Since she weighs about 8,000 pounds, being down that long can damage her internal organs.

Afterward, Alaska Zoo officials temporarily put Alaska's lone elephant in a sling -- a temporary situation until the zoo finds out what is wrong with her. Lampi said tests have revealed nothing abnormal.

On Sunday she was out of the sling, wearing what Lampi described as a loose-fitting harness made of nylon webbing. The outfit encircles Maggie's body, with a strap around her chest, and another around her rump.

"So if she should go down, it would be easy for us to hoist us back up," Lampi said. "We hope that isn't the case, and we don't anticipate it, but it's just precautionary. She seems to be wearing it around with no problem."

Lampi said the staff is also considering putting a big mound of dirt in Maggie's enclosure so she can use it to roll herself up to a standing position.

"We're playing it by ear," he said.

Maggie's episodes last week gave momentum to those who say Alaska is no place for an elephant. They want the zoo to map Maggie's future as quickly as possible, and are suggesting the best place for her is an elephant sanctuary in the Lower 48.

Lampi did not know if the board would change the date for its scheduled August meeting.

"That's a decision to be made by the board of directors," he said.

Dylan Evans, 12, has already written a letter to zoo leaders requesting the meeting come sooner.

"I told them I was going to keep writing letters until they decide something, and they shouldn't wait until August to decide," Dylan said.

She attended Sunday's rally with her mom and sister after their father spotted the gathering at O'Malley Road and Lake Otis Parkway, and called the girls to tell them about it, Dylan said. They hurried to the location as soon as they knew the demonstration was taking place, she added.

Dylan last went to the zoo on Kid's Day, and visited Maggie's 1,600-square-foot concrete enclosure.

"She looked really sad and stuff," Dylan said. "So I felt kind of sad too. She didn't look happy at all."

Maggie left her South African herd as a baby more than 25 years ago, after her mother was killed. In Alaska, she joined Asian elephant Annabelle at the zoo. Annabelle died in 1997.

Maggie spends the cold half of the year in her enclosure, which animal rights groups say makes her more subject to health problems, even early death. Throughout this debate, the elephant has remained one of the zoo's more iconic animals, and a huge draw.

Diane Raynor visits Maggie weekly. She helped form a group called "Free Maggie" -- the organization that staged Sunday's gathering. She called the elephant's current conditions "ridiculous and absurd."

People have learned so much more about elephant needs and behavior in recent years, Raynor said. They are smart, social animals who like to be around other elephants, and seeing Maggie pent up and alone is heartbreaking, Raynor said.

Some people at Sunday's rally just happened to drive by, and pulled over. Nancy Elrod, from Girdwood, joined in after hearing about the rally on the radio.

"I was just wondering what I could do to help," Elrod said.

"Well, you're helping by being here," Raynor said.

Raynor said the rallies will likely resume next weekend, again at about 10 a.m. The group may move closer to the zoo, which is located farther east on O'Malley Road.